Traveling from your home country to another can be exciting. You get to see new places, experience different cultures and enlarge your scope of knowledge about life beyond your country.
While exciting, it can also be overwhelming, with things like culture shock, language barriers, and unfamiliar surroundings being top of the list of challenges you will encounter. You may also encounter challenges commuting from one place to the other, especially true if you are staying at your destination for an extended time for work, study, or other reasons.
But worry not, as this guide highlights commuting options you may want to consider when living abroad for some time.
Buying or Leasing a Vehicle
If your stay involves a lot of travel, leasing or buying a car will be the best option. The choice between buying and leasing will depend on several factors, such as how long you intend to stay.
For example, leasing a car may be a good option if your stay is several months to a few years. If you are staying longer and want more control over how you use your car, buying is the best option.
Buying or leasing a car means you will need to get insurance coverage as required by your host country. The best approach to buying insurance abroad would be shopping for the fairest options without compromising the quality of services you get.
Choosing insurance in a foreign country can be overwhelming. Luckily, online tools, such as iSelect, can help you compare the best providers in as little as five minutes.
Taxis and Rideshare
If you can not afford or will not need a car that much, taxis and rideshare options are excellent choices. This option is beneficial in familiarizing yourself with your new location in your first days or when commuting to places where other options like walking, cycling, or public transport may not be ideal.
These options are limited to cities and their environs and may not work for you if you live in the countryside. Even when it could work, it can be significantly costly, but it will depend on your commute distance. The best alternative taxis and rideshare would be car hire.
Walking
Walking is an excellent transportation option if you live within walking distance of the location you need to access. First, it is cost-free but also helps uphold your health through exercise. You also get to take in the sights and sounds of your surroundings and better experience the people’s culture.
You only need to watch out for cars, cyclists, and motorcyclists and ensure you only use designated crossing zones to avoid getting hit. Luckily most cities are pedestrian-friendly, so you do not have to worry about getting into an accident.
Biking
If you live a significant distance from your school or place of work, walking may not be an option for you. The second cheapest and healthy option is biking since your only major cost will be buying the bike.
If you are moving into cities in the developed world, there is a chance the city could have bike-sharing services where you pick a bike at a small fee and return it after use. If biking is your preferred option, consider buying a helmet or renting one every time you use one.
Also, remember to follow traffic rules for bikers to ensure your safety. If you live at a distance where a bicycle ride may not be practical and do not have the money to buy a car, consider investing in a powered bicycle, scooter, or motorcycle.
Public Transport
Most modern cities have efficient public transport systems, including buses, trams, and subway trains. Public transport offers the cheapest mode of transport after walking and cycling.
The only downside to this option is that it is limited to major cities. Also, there are situations where public transport may not get you to your destination. Under such circumstances, you can combine it with walking or a short taxi ride.
